The Cressons And The American entomological-Society

A brief history is presented summarizing the contributions of Ezra T. Cresson, Sr., hymenopterist( 1838-1925), and his two sons, George B. Cresson, general naturalist and formicidologist( 185919 19) and Ezra T. Cresson, Jr., dipterist( 1876-1948), to the science of entomology and to The American Entomological Society. This talk was given at the society's 125th anniversary meeting on February 15, 1984. If there were ever to be a "first family" of The American Entomological Society, it most certainly would have to be the Cresson family, because Ezra Townsend Cresson, Sr. and his two sons, George Bringhurst Cresson and Ezra Townsend Cresson, Jr., contributed a great deal to the society. Logically, the story begins with E.T. Cresson, Sr., who, according to his biographer, the reknowned odonatist Philip P. Calvert ( 1 928), was born at Byberry, Bucks Co., Pennsylvania on June 18, 1838. Little is known of his childhood other than that he attended Philadelphia public schools through grammar school (eighth grade), but didn't go to high school. Evidently, he was obliged to work for the support of his mother, and during the late 1850's, was employed as a clerk for the Pennsylvania Railroad. The year 1859 was an important one for the young (2 1 -yr.-old) Cresson for several reasons. To begin with, in February of that year, together with James Ridings and George Newman, he founded The Entomological Society of Philadelphia, the name of which was changed to The American Entomological Society in 1867. He was also elected its first recording